Mangroves: the great connector of landscape and seascape

After we discuss concerning the significance of emblematic ecosystems, the majestic magnificence and relevance of mangrove forests is sort of all the time introduced up.  However past this extra common recognition, the depth and scope of their worth nonetheless stays a considerably summary idea in folks´s creativeness.  Which values and providers are we eager to find out about?  What means will we use to be taught?  How will we translate, flow into, share and switch that information to completely different stakeholders and society at giant?  And the way will we use it to affect determination makers and insurance policies that then require help for implementation from a cohort of actors working at completely different ranges, to make sure their preservation and advantages?

Whereas this appears a frightening activity, taking it on may simply come again to a deal with connection.  Mangroves don’t exist in a void. They’re actually, the good connector of panorama and seascape.  They protect and are intrinsically linked to watershed lowlands containing productive actions, communities and inland wetlands.  Their relation to different coastal habitats like estuaries, mudflats, sandbanks and seashores, lagoons and seagrass beds, is akin to the symbiotic relationship between species that inhabit and share them.  They usually contribute enormously to the broader marine setting by way of their filtering, nursery, and stabilization capabilities, amongst others. 

So coming again to how we are able to deal with our preliminary questions, we are able to certainly use the connection idea as an analogy for our strategy to mangrove conservation and valuation.  Nationwide Audubon Society carried out the Blue Natural Heritage (BNH) undertaking in Panama between 2021-2025 with this concept in thoughts – connecting science, communications, training, and coverage in a highly-collaborative effort targeted on two websites of hemispheric significance for biodiversity and migratory birds – Parita Bay and Bay of Panama.  

With the help of the UK Blue Carbon Fund by way of the Inter-American Improvement Financial institution (IDB) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Setting of Panama, lead nationwide group Panama Audubon Society and quite a few collaborators, the BNH undertaking helped advance the bottom scientific and technical information important to planning and administration of mangroves at web site and nation degree; whereas supporting native engagement by way of training and broad public consciousness efforts; whereas making a help platform for mangrove and coastal coverage implementation – home and worldwide. 

We have a good time our undertaking´s successes with our companions and allies by way of the presentation of the Blue Natural Heritage´s Story Maps (English and Spanish) which summarize our actions and contribute to our objective to speak, share and collectively develop our information on these pure treasures. 

On account of this foundational undertaking, we additionally wish to share a sequence of paperwork and scientific assets that not solely spotlight the richness and complexity of this ecosystem, but in addition current the findings, realities, and challenges it poses. These supplies can function worthwhile inputs to strengthen packages, public insurance policies, and actions throughout numerous sectors—community-based, industrial, non-public, civil society, governmental, and worldwide organizations—that search to guard this pure heritage. Amongst them:

On the similar time, we goal to construct from our successes and be taught from our failures – refining and recalibrating efforts and all the time aiming to interact the widest viewers.  As a result of simply as mangroves join nature,  we’re related to them irrespective of the place we could also be.